Page 112 of Set me Free

Serenity stood a few feet ahead of me, holding Cree close to her chest, while Gio clutched her leg, his big brown eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings. Next to them, Ms. Trina, Gio’s nanny, adjusted her purse strap as she took in the sight of the island.

I glanced down at my son, ruffling his soft curls. "You ready for vacation big man?"

Gio looked up at me with a toothy grin. "Yeah! We go beach, Daddy?"

I chuckled. "Yeah, lil’ man, we gon’ hit the beach first thing tomorrow."

Serenity turned her head toward us, giving Gio a warm smile before kneeling down to his level. "We have a whole week of fun planned, baby."

He giggled and wrapped his arms around her neck, still as attached to her as ever. And that? That alone made this whole thing even more complicated.

I wasn’t just fighting for her anymore. I was fighting for my family.

The ride to the villa was quiet, but not uncomfortable. It was more like we were all taking in the scenery—the winding roads lined with tall palm trees, the glimpses of white-sand beaches, the smell of salt and hibiscus flowers floating through the air.

When we pulled up to the villa, I was the first one out, offering my hand to Serenity as she carefully stepped down from the SUV with Cree in her arms.

Gio, still buzzing with energy, reached for my hand. "Daddy, what dis place?"

I crouched next to him, nodding toward the sprawling oceanfront property before us. "This our home for the week, big man."

His eyes widened. "Wow!" And yeah, I had to agree.

The villa was straight out of a dream. A modern, beachfront estate nestled along the white sand shores of Jumby Bay. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls framed the open-concept living space, showcasing panoramic views of the ocean stretching out into forever. The infinity pool sparkled in the moonlight, and beyond that was our own private stretch of beach.

Inside, every inch of the place screamed luxury—from the high ceilings with exposed wooden beams to the soft cream and beige tones that balanced the airy, open feel of the space. A gourmet kitchen, a sunken living room, a sprawling outdoor terrace, and five bedrooms, each with their own view of the ocean.

Ms. Trina let out a low whistle as she walked inside. "Well, I be damned… y’all livin’ good, huh?"

I smirked, setting down my bags. "Something like that."

Serenity shook her head, amused. "Something like that?" She turned to Trina. "Don’t let him fool you, Ms. Trina. This place is insane."

Trina gave a hum of approval before ushering Gio toward the kitchen for a snack, giving me and Serenity a second alone.

I watched her as she slowly walked toward the open balcony doors, staring out at the waves. She held Cree close, rocking her gently.

For a moment, I let myself imagine it—the four of us living like this for real. No drama, no doubts, no distance. Just… us.

But I knew better.

This trip? It was temporary.

And Serenity? She was already gone in her mind.

That night, after Gio was asleep in his room and Ms. Trina had settled in for the evening, Serenity and I sat outside on the terrace. Cree was down for the night too, giving us a rare moment of peace.

I had a private chef prepare something light—fresh seafood, tropical fruit, and a bottle of wine for Serenity.

She picked at her plate, sipping her wine slowly, her face turned toward the ocean breeze.

For the next hour, we ate and talked—just like old times. It was effortless. Natural. We fell into the same rhythm we always did, joking, reminiscing, laughing about the way Gio ran straight into the ocean earlier before Trina had to chase after him.

But under all of that?

I could still feel the tension simmering.

Because no matter how much we tried to pretend like this was normal, we both knew… it wasn’t.

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